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The George & Dragon was situated at 44 Branston Road.  A Bass tenancy, which through the 1950’s was kept by the Twamley family. Eventually closed as licensed premises in the late 1960s, to eventually reopen as the “Queen of Sheba” guest house, much used under DHSS patronage, This eventually closed, (c1980’s) and remains today in a boarded up condition.

Source: Chris Eaton

Back in the 1950’s I served my two years National Service in the RAF at 16 MU Stafford (1956-58) a distance of something like twenty miles away. Though a native of Burton I was then living in Devon but luckily my Grandma was living in Burton quite near to the George & Dragon. She lived in of the adjacent Streets – Watson Street. Living in Devon at the time meant I could only get home once a month as the distance from home was too far to travel the return journey in the 36 hours available. Consequently I stayed at my Grandma’s house rather than remain on camp for the weekend. Burton was, and still is an awkward place to get to from Stafford by public transport, so I hitch-hiked from camp to Burton via Lichfield. I soon made friends in the area and their local was the George & Dragon, so naturally, I became familiar with the pub. When returning back to camp on a Sunday night alone, I called in to pass the time, I was 18 year's old and there was a rather attractive young lady sometimes helping behind the bar, I think the young lady’s name was Maureen and was daughter of mine hosts Mr and Mrs Twamley. Of course I was far too shy to make any overtures to this fair damsel, anyway I think she was too young. I would make excuses (to myself) and soon be on my way. I must confess I wasn’t much of a drinker, I suppose I was one of those who nursed half a pint all night long. Returning to camp on a cold winters night was a miserable affair accentuated by leaving the warm fug and bright lights and tinkling piano inside. I suppose I knew the pub for something like 18 months from 1956 through 1957. I left the RAF for home in the summer of 1958, never to return to the George & Dragon. Mr and Mrs Twamley must have passed on by now, but what of fair maiden – who knows? This was all a long time ago, but I only have to close my eyes to see with startling clarity the sea of faces, hear the clinking of glasses, all in competition with a swinging piano.

Ian Giles (June 2015)

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